2001 Volkswagen Passat Transmission Problems

FRONT BALL JOINT FAILURE AT APPROX. 35,000 MILES. THEN A LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE AT 95,000 MILES. OLD CONTROL ARM IS AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261782

Incident

Mar 12, 2009

Mileage

35,000 mi

DEC 12TH 2008 THE INTERIOR OF MY PASST WAS FLOODED WITH WATER, VW SERVICE REMOVED 10 + GALLONS OF WATER WHICH ENTERED FROM AIR PLENUM /POLLEN FILTER HOSING(CABIN AREA). SERVICE INFORMED ME OF THE P9 RECALL FOR THE PASSATS MANUFACTURED NOV '00 TO DEC '05. BUT, VW OF AMERICA WILL NOT HELP ME THEY SAID MY VIN # IS NOT IN THE RECALL. THE COMPUTERS ARE ON THE FLOOR OF CAR. AIR BAG IS IN DEFAULT DAMAGE FROM ELECTRICAL DAMAGE FROM WATER DAMAGE.. MY TRANS MOD IS WRECKED FROM THE WATER DAMAGE, JUST THE PART ALONE WILL COST $1,300. I HAVE LOST WORK AND CAN NOT DRIVE. THE MAKE OF CAR & YEAR IS IN RECALL SO WHY IS MY VIN NOT INCLUDED?! SOMEONE PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10252063

Incident

Dec 12, 2008

Mileage

64,445 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE "STOP VEHICLE DO NOT DRIVE", AND OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE ENGINE. THE PREVIOUS REPAIR REQUIRED THE VEHICLE TO REMAIN AT THE DEALER FOR ONE MONTH. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. IN ADDITION, DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, FIVE INCHES OF WATER LEAKED ONTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PANEL. THERE WAS ELECTRICAL FAILURE DUE TO THE WATER LEAKAGE THAT CAUSED GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE THAT CONSISTS OF INSTALLATION OF A DRAINAGE FILTER AND FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENT REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THESE MALFUNCTIONS. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10243564

Incident

Sep 10, 2005

Mileage

36,000 mi

MY CAR IS A 2001 V6, WE HAD HEAVY RAIN DURING THE PAST WEEK AND ONE MORNING MY CAR HAD A PUDDLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND FAILED TO START OR EVEN PUT IN GEAR THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER WAS FLOODED AND IT TOOK 4 DAYS FOR THEM TO TAKE ALL WATER OUT OF THE CAR AND TEST ALL SENSORS . *TR

NHTSA ID

10216909

Incident

Jan 27, 2008

2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT LOW MILEAGE OF 21,000 MILES. NORMALLY GARAGED AND MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. AFTER RAIN, FOUND AN INCH OF WATER IN REAR PASSENGER FLOOR. TRANSMISSION NON-FUNCTIONAL, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS ON. DEALER SAID THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL WAS NO GOOD AND THAT WATER LEAKED IN AND DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE FLOOR BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT. COST OF REPAIR IN EXCESS OF $3,100. VW REFUSES TO COMPENSATE IN ANY WAY BECAUSE WARRANTY WAS ONLY FOR TWO YEARS. TRANSMISSION AND POWER TRAIN ARE COVERED FOR 5 YEARS, BUT VW SAYS THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO "OUTSIDE INFLUENCE". I HAVE READ MANY ACCOUNTS ON THE INTERNET FROM MANY ANGRY OWNERS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WHERE LEAKS FROM THIS SEAL HAVE CAUSED CATASTROPHIC REPAIRS. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE VW DEALER TOLD ME THAT CHECKING THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL IS NOT PART OF ANY REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THAT IN ORDER TO CHECK IT, YOU'D NEED TO DISASSEMBLE QUITE A FEW THINGS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHEN I ASKED HIM HOW AN OWNER COULD POSSIBLY KNOW IF THE SEAL NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND HE REPLIED "YOU FOUND OUT HOW". I AM CLEARLY NOT ALONE IN HAVING EXPERIENCED A FAILURE FROM A PART THAT IS NOT IN ANY WAY MAINTAINABLE (THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL) AND THAT HAS CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I FEEL THIS IS A CONSUMER ISSUE AND THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE PASSAT THAT VW SHOULD COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR. THERE IS NO WAY FOR AN OWNER TO BE ABLE TO AVOID THIS SITUATION -- IT IS NOT A MATTER OF MAINTENANCE. IT GOT TO DO WITH THE PASSAT LEAKING WATER AND THE LOCATION OF AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE COMPONENT IN THE REAR PASSENGER FLOOR, THE AREA WHERE ANY WATER THAT LEAKS MIGRATES TO. IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED DURING DRIVING, I MIGHT HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147412

Incident

Dec 3, 2005

Mileage

21,300 mi

I HAVE A 2001 PASSAT WITH 66,XXX MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. IT IS GOING TO COST 4000.00-5000.00 TO HAVE THIS FIX. I DO NOT THINK A CAR WITH THIS MANY MILES SHOULD HAVE A TRANSMISSION GO OUT AND TO TOP IT OFF WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR 6 MONTHS AGO WITH 51,060 FROM WALSHER IN BLOOMINGTON, MN THEY SAID I HAD A 10YR/100,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY ON IT, WELL COME TO FIND OUT SINCE I AM A SECOND OWNER IT ONLY GOES TO 50,000 MILES WHICH MEANS *JBWHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

10140817

Incident

Oct 15, 2005

Mileage

66,000 mi

LACK OF POWER WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC. THIS WAS DUE TO WATER LEAK IN POLLEN FILTER BOX (CRACKED) WHICH AFFECTED THE SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID, AFFECTING THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10133362

Incident

Aug 9, 2005

Mileage

33,152 mi

I HAVE A 2001 NEW PASSAT GLX AWD SEDAN WITH 23,000 MILES. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEMS, AT LEAST TWO WITH SAFETY RAMIFICATIONS: (1) FROM A STANDSTILL START, THE TRANSMISSION WILL OFTEN PRODUCE A SEVERAL SECOND LAG BEFORE SYNCHRONIZING WITH THE ENGINE - THE SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE AT A RATE OF SPEED THE DRIVER COULD NORMALLY EXPECT AND MAY LEAVE THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS EXPOSED TO COLLISION FROM ON-COMING CARS AT DIFFICULT TRAFFIC INTERSECTIONS AND MERGES; (2) AT LOW SPEEDS, 15 MPH AND LOWER, THE TRANSMISSION OFTEN CLUNKS INTO GEAR CAUSING A FORWARD SURGE OF THE VEHICLE, CREATING THE RISK OF THE VW REAR ENDING A VEHICLE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. VW HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10093467

Incident

Jun 6, 2004

Mileage

18,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH VEHICLE STALLED, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE BROKE IN TWO PARTS. THE PART WAS REPLACED AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $1055. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10079998

Incident

Jun 28, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10083316

Incident

Jul 8, 2004

Mileage

59,000 mi

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD.*AK

NHTSA ID

10055966

Incident

Jan 12, 2004

Mileage

39,000 mi

TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 3000 MILES. CAR WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. NOW THERE IS AN EXTREME TURBO LAG HESITATION ON ACCELERATION. THERE IS A GOOD 1-2 SECOND HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10032539

Incident

Jun 15, 2001

Mileage

2,900 mi

I HAVE VW PASSAT, 2001. IT HAS AROUND 30 000 MILES ON IT. THE CLUTCH HAS GONE DOWN ON THIS CAR AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PARTS AND LABOR FOR THIS REPAIR ARE MORE THAN $2200. THIS CAR HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ALSO. THE WARRANTY IS GONE AFTER 24000K OR 2 YEARS. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS CAR, BUT THEY DON'T COVER ANYTHING FROM THE LONG LIST OF REPAIR. I CALLED TO VW CUSTOMER CARE AND ASK TO REIMBURSE ME FOR CLUTCH REPAIR, SINCE IT MUST BE AFTER 10 YEARS/100 000 MILES POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THEY REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE. I COMPLAIN ABOUT VW QUALITY ( I HAVE FRIENDS HAVING TROUBLE WITH VW AS WELL). I BELIEVE THAT MANUFACTURE HAS TO TAKE CARE OF BAD PRODUCT AND COVER THE REPAIR COST. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND I EXPECT TO HAVE A QUALITY ITEM, NOT THE JUNK FOR MORE THAN $25K. I ALSO COMPLETELY DISSATISFIED WITH VW SERVICE!!!!

NHTSA ID

10003183

Incident

Jan 22, 2003

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL NOT CHANGE GEARS DUE TO METAL FLAKING IN TRANSMISSION. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013922

Incident

Aug 2, 2001

WHEN AT A STOP OR DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT TO HIGHER GEAR. ENGINE WILL RACE, RPM'S GO UP, AND VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES, CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013320

Incident

Sep 15, 2001

ACCELERATION HESITATION ESPECIALLY IN LOW GEAR - TRANSMISSION WINDS INTO GEAR - *AK

NHTSA ID

760318

WHEN COLD, DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEARS WHILE ROLLING. *AK

NHTSA ID

757936

I PURCHASED A 2001 VW PASSAT ON AUGUST 21,2001 FROM PATRICK MOTORS IN AUBURN, MASS. IN THE 5 WEEKS I HAVE OWED THE CAR IT HAS HAD BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES ( 2 X TOWED) FOR THE SAME RELATED PROBLEM. MALFUNCTION LIGHT HAS GONE ON EACH OF THOSE TIMES. CAR HAS DRIVEN IN LOW GEAR AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH HESITATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE GAS. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED AS WELL AS FRAYED WIRES REPAIRED THAT CAME FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CAR HAS BE UNDRIVEABLE PER THE DEALERSHIP DURING THESE TIMES. I HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE TYPE OF COMMUTE I DO EVERY DAY TO WORK. I DRIVE 50 MINS ONE WAY DOWN RT 2, 495 AND RT 3. I HAVE BEEN IN THE POSITION OF CONCERN IF MY CAR WILL MAKE IT HOME, TO WORK, WILL I CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH THE CARS CONTINUED PROBLEM WITH THE HESITATION WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS. TO ME THIS HAS CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE. FURTHER INFO CAN BE PROVIDED WITH MORE DETAILED INFORMATION AS WELL AS COPIES OF SERVICE REPAIR ORDER. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

752779

Incident

Sep 3, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING OUTISIDE OF DRIVEWAY AND THE RED LIGHT DISPLAYED ON DASHBOARD SAYING STOP CHECK COOLIANT, DON'T DRIVE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP, AND KEPT VEHICLE OVER NIGHT. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

893184

Incident

Jul 16, 2001

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON STARTING 02/12/2001. IT WAS CHECK BY THE DEALER ON 03/06/2001 BUT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND AND CLEARED CODE. THREE DAYS LATER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON AGAIN WITH AIRBAG FAULT SIGN WAS ALSO ON. TOOK TO DEALER ON 03/22/2001 ALONG WITH THE NEW TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS TOWED IN BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION PAN, GASKET PUNCTURED AND OIL LEAKING. THE DEALER SERVICE REPLACE THE AIRBAG AND UPPER HARNESS UNDER WARRANTY OF THE CAR, WHILE TRANSMISSION REPAIR WAS CHARGE TO MY INSURANCE. MY SAFETY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION PAN IS MAYBE TOO LOW TO THE GROUND THAT IT CAN EASILY BE PUNCTURED, WHICH MAY CAUSE SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. AND FOR THE AIRBAG WARNING SIGN TURNED ON, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF ACCIDENT OCCURS OR MAY ACCIDENTALLY DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ID

744398

Incident

Mar 22, 2001

THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN WHICH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DROPPED OUT OF GEAR RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER TRANSMISSION TO THE DRIVE WHEELS, UPON DEPRESSION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE RPM'S WOULD INCREASE BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. NLM

NHTSA ID

559684

Incident

Jan 5, 2001

TRANSMISSION WAS DROPPING OUT OF GEAR AT 2036 MILES. HAD IT REPAIRED. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE BACK IN REPAIR SHOP FOR SAME PROBLEM.*AK THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN FAILING EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER KEPT PUTING IN NEW ONE. *YH

NHTSA ID

879619

Incident

Jan 5, 2001

TRANSMISSION MAKES VIBRATION NOISE WHEN UPSHIFTING, THE NOISE SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NLM

NHTSA ID

558742

Incident

Dec 18, 2000